Bachelor's+4% vs national median3,157 grads tracked
Journalism at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Ranked 20th of 127 bachelor's programs in Journalism by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$38,051
middle 50%: $28,439 – $49,442
Median · 5 years out
$61,364
middle 50%: $45,727 – $81,149
Median · 10 years out
$79,547
middle 50%: $56,824 – $111,608
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Journalism (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Penn State Journalism graduates earn a median of $38,051 in their first year. Median salaries reach $79,547 by year 10.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7 yrs
≈ $8,358 total interest
Same major at other universities
CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College
$64,533 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$62,956 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$62,781 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$62,777 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$62,297 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$61,417 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$60,067 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$59,859 · 5 yrs out
Bethel University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$59,826 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$59,636 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$59,529 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out
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